In a landmark ruling that has sent shockwaves across India, a Special POCSO Court in Uttar Pradesh’s Banda district has delivered death sentences to a married couple convicted of perpetrating one of the most extensive child sexual abuse cases in recent history. Rambhawan, a junior engineer in the state irrigation department, and his wife Durgawati were found guilty of subjecting 33 male children—some as young as three years old—to systematic sexual exploitation over a decade-long period from 2010 to 2020.
The court characterized the offenses as demonstrating ‘extreme moral turpitude’ and falling under the ‘rarest of rare’ category warranting capital punishment. The convicted pair faced multiple charges including aggravated penetrative sexual assault, production of child sexual abuse material, and criminal conspiracy under India’s Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
According to investigative findings by India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which registered the case in October 2020, the perpetrators employed sophisticated grooming techniques including online video games, financial incentives, and gifts to lure vulnerable minors across Banda and neighboring Chitrakoot districts. The agency’s meticulous investigation involved coordination with forensic experts, medical professionals, and child protection authorities to preserve crucial digital evidence.
The court additionally mandated compensation of Rs 1 million (approximately $12,000) for each victim and ordered the distribution of confiscated cash from the defendants’ residence among the survivors. Medical reports presented during trial revealed some children sustained physical injuries during assaults, while others developed permanent health conditions including squint eye from being forced into uncomfortable positions.
Child rights advocate Naghma Sahar, who has extensively reported on such cases, emphasized that while sentencing provides judicial closure, the victims require sustained psychological and educational support to rebuild their lives. She highlighted the case demonstrates how abuse can remain concealed for years within familiar environments, underscoring the critical need for enhanced community vigilance and awareness programs in schools.
The verdict represents a significant application of India’s legal provisions permitting capital punishment in exceptional cases involving aggravated sexual assault of minors, reflecting the judiciary’s increasing severity toward crimes against children.